I don't think CM's reworked them at all. The original TLEAD prototype showed at least two out of the four missile bays, and I still see those odd curved panel lines that go across the chest. The Legioss looks the same, too.

And if the TLEAD is 17 cm tall, as Yaco seems to be reporting, the scale of the fighter combo is around 1/72, unless my math is wrong.

I did not notice until last night that the arms in fighter mode are way to close together. That really may be a deal breaker for me. I don't know why but that just doesn't look right and I don't know why CM would change the design on that SO radically. Anyone know if this display is just mis-transformed or mis-designed? Or is this some obscure line art/master design version I am not aware of? :P

All three color variants are being produced, they start arriving in late February, and will be priced at 29,400 yen (about $257). If interested, I would keep watching HLJ's MOSPEADA listings for early bird pre-orders:

eriku Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And yes, I'll be watching HLJ like a hawk.
> Typically their 5% EB doesn't add up to much, but
> it should make a noticable difference on this set.

Looks fine to me. At this point I DO NOT CARE if it's not "anime-accurate". I feel lucky to have not only a Legioss/Tlead set coming out, but one that should actually be a quality toy. I'm not gonna bitch about anything, unless it falls apart in my hands when I get it.

A lot of the folks at Macross World really seem to hate this toy after the last images surfaced. I'm starting to think people have gotten too picky and too complacent about design/accuracy. Plenty of people love old vintage toys that are wonderfully durable and playable but also seriously deviate from animation designs. Why is it that new toys cannot make any comprimises lest they get picked apart by the same complacent fans who are OK with the vintage toys? I mean, compare this set to a Gakken.

Am I the only one that just wants a GOOD TOY that represents a mecha design I love and can be played with? Hell, I would have been fine with the Toynami Legioss had it not crumbled like an unearthed Pharaoh in my hands.

eriku Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Am I the only one that just wants a GOOD TOY that
> represents a mecha design I love and can be played
> with?

Nope, I'm with you. All transforming designs use some degree of "anime magic" to accomplish what they do, so I can totally accept some sort of compromise in the design if it means that it's going to be fun and durable.

I agree completely, but MW is known for obsession with lineart. Impossible to reason with those people.

On the other hand, I do think that durability/quality/whatever could be a real concern with these CM's toys. Although CM's has shown the ability to produce high quality stuff, they have not always chosen to do so. :) Also, they mention the PVC content very prominently. (I'm very hopeful that these will turn out great, though, and I'd be willing to accept a small amount of crappiness just to great a tread.)

No, the bike's not too small and it doesn't look that green...wait, never mind.

Unless, the final production run is going to be painted purple and sculpted to look like a chubby dinosaur--and assuming that the thing is way more durable than CMs's other transformable toys--then it looks perfect.

As far as accuracy, for goodness sake, some of these 80s mecha designs looked different from scene to scene.

I wonder why so many people at MW even waste their time with toys instead of just keeping a file cabinet full of lineart and blueprints to admire. So far I'm the only person over there willing to even give this thing a chance. Everyone else has written it off as 'garbage'. Although one person said if it came out in the 1980's they'd be interested. LOL

Anyway, I don't mean to pick on MW, it's my second home.

Has anyone heard if the Legioss and Tlead will be released individually aside from just the set? I think CMs might sell a few more toys that way since not everyone is into the Tlead.

Gentlemen, I apologize for not being clear in my worry about the look of the combined jets. When I asked, "does this image just not look right", I didn't mean with respect to the lineart. The lineart can blow me...twice. As can MW, incidentally.

What I meant was more along the lines of, does this look stupid to you?

Again, I care not a whit about accuracy, and toy playability and durability are absolutely paramount to me as well. I just think that the combined form looks kinda dumb--the two ships look disjointed instead of having a nice smooth transition from one to the other, making it look like a single vehicle.

That, and the Legioss' thruster/feet kinda jutting out to the sides and the vertical stabilizers not completely folding away into the forearms make the design look sorta shabby/half-assed to me. Again, lineart be damned; this is just my aesthetic gripe.

Oh, one last question: why is it "TLEAD", not "TREAD"? Is it an acronym or something, like "GERWALK"?

--
Sanjeev

'Us Massholes straight up just don't give a fuck. I still pronounce "Mazinger" as "Tranzor Z".'
-Nekrodave

I always assumed Tlead and Tread were interchangable, and a result of the whole "r" and "l" Japanese translation quagmire.

I think the combination of the Legioss and Tlead by it's nature is very goofy looking, be it anime, lineart or toy, which is kind of why I dig it in the first place. It may not be joined properly in that pic, like they're showing how and where it links up or something. Or maybe that's how it has to sit without a stand? Hard to say without more pics.

Wow, I hate to keep making it an issue but the pure venom at MW has escalated to the point of giant red fonts and people theorizing that CMs didn't have enough money for this project to hire first-rate designers.

I'ma gonna make some popcorn and watch that thread all night, it's way too amusing.

That said, what was the last transforming toy CMs made? I'm not familiar enough with their releases to know the chronology.

Seriously, CM Corp has been making their stuff too expensive now. Their first release GGG wasn't that expensive for a high end item (I think I got it for $130).

I'm sorry, I can't support this. I wanted to because I really like the Legioss but not like that. Unless there's some major discount, I'll have to pass. I'm looking at the pics, what exactly makes this $257? Metal content? I don't see a lot of it.

Sorry to rant like this.

--------------------------------------------------------------

I asked if I have "Time For L-Gaim" but I got "No Reply From The Wind".

> -----
> > $257!! FUCK THAT!!
>
> Vincent, do you actually have any Japanese robot
> toys? Why do you post on this board?
>
> > I'm sorry, I can't support this.
>
> Darn. I was really hoping you would. Guess I can
> forget about sleeping tonight.

I was expecting something closer to 200. Plus I'm pretty disappointed in the way the thing looks. Armo Soldier mode is alright. The TLEAD looks ok by itself in both modes. The legios in armo fighter mode, and combined legioss TLEAD just look awful

"Hey! We charged you saps $130 for a smallish diecast Ingram. A Legioss/Tlead combo is like two Ingrams!"

Yes, the price is not exactly small change. Yes, perhaps people shouldn't be flamed for getting (over)excited about the price. Yes, this is a wonderful design from a wonderful show.

[Quick aside: I recently watched the Robotech New Generation series again--yes, I know, it's not Mospeada--but man, it really holds up. It's a really good show even today. And from what I understand, it wasn't that different from Mospeada.]

While I do have confidence in CM's ability to produce a quality toy, the price point of "2 x Ingram" IS bloody high. This will not be an impulse buy for me unlike the more manageable ride armor toys. I will definitely have to see the actual product before plonking down the cash.

OTOH, the more "accurate" TLEAD by Toynami is still in the works. The only problem is that the colors probably won't match the Aoshima-edition's anime-hues. They should grab the 'improved' molds and redo the lot...

It seems a lot of people would rather pay a little less for something that doesn't hold together and falls apart rather than invest a little more to get something well-made and quality. True Americans I tell ya.